Actor lands dream job in Doctor Who

Gaynor Clarke

A Lancashire actor and comedian is heading for prime time TV after being cast in Doctor Who.

Bethany Black will appear in a special episode of the hugely popular series when it returns to BBC1 in September.

“I only hope that I do the role and the show justice, and that you all enjoy it. For me it’s the gig of a lifetime.”

Bethany Black

She will feature alongside actor, comedian and award-winning writer Reece Shearsmith, as well as Peter Capaldi as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald.

Bethany, who comes from Withnell, near Chorley, and is a former pupil of Parklands High School in Chorley, is a long-time fan of Doctor Who and wrote about it on her Facebook fan page. She is the first openly transgender actor on the show.

She wrote: “My earliest TV memory was Peter Davison in Doctor Who in Four to Doomsday, I remember running into the lounge, running away from the music, running back in and hiding behind the couch, leaving when it got too much. I’ve been a Doctor Who fan ever since.

“The first time I remember seeing someone I wanted to be when I grew up it was Sophie Aldred as Ace. And I was heartbroken when it was cancelled. As time went on I was a casual fan, I’d watch anything Doctor Who related when it came on the TV, whether it was BBC four showing old episodes, or the BBC’s Doctor Who Night with sketches by the members of the League of Gentlemen.”

She wrote about getting a part in Banana, a series by former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, and working with actor Andrew Hayden Smith, who had appeared in Doctor Who.

And Bethany said her agent then told her she had an audition for Doctor Who.

Bethany continued: “I got it. I got the job. I had to keep it silent. But I GOT THE JOB!

“When I went down for the read through and saw my name on the table next to Jenna Coleman’s it suddenly started to feel real.

“It is genuinely the greatest job I could ever have imagined getting. Everything about it is magical. I’m enjoying every day of filming and cherishing it, because you never know if you’ll ever get to do anything like this again.

“I only hope that I do the role and the show justice, and that you all enjoy it. For me it’s the gig of a lifetime.”

Bethany has mainly worked as a comedian. She used to run a performing arts club at Preston’s Adelphi pub and has done gigs around the country.

She has also appeared in television programmes including Cucumber earlier this year.

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